SDMB - Straight Dope discussion

A stack of new books, received for my birthday:

The Blue Place
by Nicola Griffith

The 351 Books of Irma Acuri: A Novel
by David Bajo

An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England
by Brock Clarke

Gentlemen of the Road: A Tale of Adventure
by Michael Chabon

People of the Book: A Novel
by Geraldine Brooks

Lavinia
by Ursula K. LeGuin

Don't Get Too Comfortable: The Indignities of Coach Class, The Torments of Low Thread Count, The Never-Ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems
by David Rakoff

Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its Moods
by Michael Wex

All but the Griffith are hardback, so I can read them on the treadmill.

I also decided to buy some books from my around-the-world list. Thanks for the suggestions!

Our Sister Killjoy, or Reflections from a Black-eyed Squint
by Aidoo, Ama Ata

Sun Hath Looked upon Me
by Beyala, Calixthe

Palace of Dreams
by Kadare, Ismail

The Abandoned Baobab: The Autobiography of a Senegalese Woman
by Bugul, Ken

Princess: A True Story of Life behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia
by Sasson, Jean P

Hungry Tide
by Ghosh, Amitav

The Country under My Skin: A Memoir of Love and War
by Belli, Gioconda

In the Name of God
by Khadra, Yasmina

When the Rainbow Goddess Wept
by Brainard, Cecilia Manguerra

So many books! That's a spectactular stack right there. Later, I'm going to look up the ones in it I haven't encountered yet.

For my birthday, I just got:

Blue Shoes and Happiness
by Alexander McCall Smith

The Triumph of Caesar
by Steven Saylor

Undead and Unworthy
by MaryJanice Davidson

Cry Wolf
by Patricia Briggs

Marsbound
by Joe Haldeman (releases next week, but it's pre-ordered!)

And I'll be buying these this fall, as soon as they're released:

Every Last Drop
by Charlie Huston

Devil's Brood
by Sharon Kay Penman (the conclusion of her Henry & Eleanor trilogy, yay!)

Nice list! I'm waiting for my copy of Marsbound from Science Fiction Book Club.

I'm hoping that when my department moves to our new quarters (currently under construction) there will be at least as many book shelves as there were in my old office--I've got all my professional books at home and I'm out of room.

I got a new roommate recently who gave me the Dune House trilogy. She knows how to pay her rent. :D

After I found a 15% off coupon for Barnes & Noble, I went there yesterday and picked up The Blood Knight by Greg Keyes. All I need now is The Born Queen and I have the whole series.

Someone else is reading Our Sister Killjoy! *maniacal laughter* Soon I will convert everyone to Ama Ata Aidoo!

Someone else is reading Our Sister Killjoy! *maniacal laughter* Soon I will convert everyone to Ama Ata Aidoo!

Okay, but you may have to read Pavic's Dictionary of the Khazars to atone!